Clubtest: Better-Player Irons

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Carrie Boretz

Clubtest: Better-Player Irons
December 2006
How We Did It
ClubTesters evaluated the models in four situations on the driving range and the course. They hit
shots from the tee, fairway and rough and chips to the green.
Where We Did It
The Saint Andrew's Golf Club in Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y.

Clubtest: Better-Player Irons
December 2006
How We Did It
ClubTesters evaluated the models in four situations on the driving range and the course. They hit
shots from the tee, fairway and rough and chips to the green.
Where We Did It
The Saint Andrew's Golf Club in Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y.

Ping S58
$1,000, steel; $1,240, graphite;
pinggolf.com
We Tested: 2-PW with True Temper Dynamic Gold and Z-Z65 steel shaft
The Company Line:
"The variable custom tuning port is progressively set farther forward on long irons to farther back on short irons. This creates a higher trajectory in long irons and a more penetrating, controlled flight in short irons."
Testers' Comments:
PROS "I can shape the ball like a sculptor."  Mike Cochrane (handicap 1)
"Ball flight is low and fast, different than the S59s."  David Doctora (4)
"There's not a lie the Pings can't handle. Okay, within reason."  Mike Nastasi (7)
"Impressed that there's no ballooning on short-iron shots that I hit a little harder to get an extra five yards."  Chuck Del Priore (0)
"The 2-iron may be the longest iron I've hit."  Chris Klamkin (1)
CONS
"Balls jump off the face in a too-lively way."  Larry Coben (6)
"Not much help out of the rough."  Zach Fasman (10)

Ping S58
$1,000, steel; $1,240, graphite;
pinggolf.com
We Tested: 2-PW with True Temper Dynamic Gold and Z-Z65 steel shaft
The Company Line:
"The variable custom tuning port is progressively set farther forward on long irons to farther back on short irons. This creates a higher trajectory in long irons and a more penetrating, controlled flight in short irons."
Testers' Comments:
PROS "I can shape the ball like a sculptor."  Mike Cochrane (handicap 1)
"Ball flight is low and fast, different than the S59s."  David Doctora (4)
"There's not a lie the Pings can't handle. Okay, within reason."  Mike Nastasi (7)
"Impressed that there's no ballooning on short-iron shots that I hit a little harder to get an extra five yards."  Chuck Del Priore (0)
"The 2-iron may be the longest iron I've hit."  Chris Klamkin (1)
CONS
"Balls jump off the face in a too-lively way."  Larry Coben (6)
"Not much help out of the rough."  Zach Fasman (10)

Greg Lord

Greg Lord

TaylorMade r7 TP
$1,000, steel; $1,200, graphite; taylormadegolf.com
We Tested: 3-PW with True Temper Dynamic Gold steel shaft
The Company Line:
"Next-generation 'inverted cone technology' increases the size of the COR zone. The result is consistent ball speed and distance on hits away from the sweet spot."
Testers' Comments:
PROS "Ball carries the same wherever you hit it on the face."  David Doctora (handicap 4)
"Plays like a game-improvement club from the rough."  Chris Klamkin (1)
"Better-than-expected misses for a player's iron."  Zach Fasman (10)
"Unbelievable at covering up misses."  Mike Cochrane (1)
"These cut through rough like the rough isn't there  the best I've seen."  Larry Coben (6)
CONS
"Lacks the touch and sensitivity on short finesse shots."  Anthony Spikes (1)
"Off-center hits are muted for a better-player's club but offer adequate feedback."  Mike Nastasi (7)

TaylorMade r7 TP
$1,000, steel; $1,200, graphite; taylormadegolf.com
We Tested: 3-PW with True Temper Dynamic Gold steel shaft
The Company Line:
"Next-generation 'inverted cone technology' increases the size of the COR zone. The result is consistent ball speed and distance on hits away from the sweet spot."
Testers' Comments:
PROS "Ball carries the same wherever you hit it on the face."  David Doctora (handicap 4)
"Plays like a game-improvement club from the rough."  Chris Klamkin (1)
"Better-than-expected misses for a player's iron."  Zach Fasman (10)
"Unbelievable at covering up misses."  Mike Cochrane (1)
"These cut through rough like the rough isn't there  the best I've seen."  Larry Coben (6)
CONS
"Lacks the touch and sensitivity on short finesse shots."  Anthony Spikes (1)
"Off-center hits are muted for a better-player's club but offer adequate feedback."  Mike Nastasi (7)

Greg Lord

Greg Lord

THE WINNER
All four models scored well in our test. But the Mizuno MP-67 separated itself just enough to be crowned the winner. MP-67 was tops from the fairway and the rough, and for chips to the green.
Mizuno MP-67
$849, steel; mizunousa.com
We Tested: 3-PW with True Temper Dynamic Gold steel shaft
Company Line:
"The slender 'cut muscle' design pinpoints the center of gravity inside the muscleback for complete ball control. A cambered sole allows the demanding player precise shot-making capability from all types of lies."
Testers' Comments:
PROS "Feel is soft as a baby's behind. And who needs hybrids when it's so easy to control shots from rough?"  Mike Cochrane (handicap 1)
"As good as short-game clubs get. If you can think, these will execute."  Zach Fasman (10)
"Doctor Spin is in the house. These are juiced on chips."  David Doctora (4)
"The most accurate and precise short and mid-irons in the test."  Anthony Spikes (1)
"Superb feel. I know where and how I hit every shot."  Larry Coben (6)
CONS
"At least a half-club shorter on good hits. Not much help on off-center hits."  Mike Nastasi (7)

THE WINNER
All four models scored well in our test. But the Mizuno MP-67 separated itself just enough to be crowned the winner. MP-67 was tops from the fairway and the rough, and for chips to the green.
Mizuno MP-67
$849, steel; mizunousa.com
We Tested: 3-PW with True Temper Dynamic Gold steel shaft
Company Line:
"The slender 'cut muscle' design pinpoints the center of gravity inside the muscleback for complete ball control. A cambered sole allows the demanding player precise shot-making capability from all types of lies."
Testers' Comments:
PROS "Feel is soft as a baby's behind. And who needs hybrids when it's so easy to control shots from rough?"  Mike Cochrane (handicap 1)
"As good as short-game clubs get. If you can think, these will execute."  Zach Fasman (10)
"Doctor Spin is in the house. These are juiced on chips."  David Doctora (4)
"The most accurate and precise short and mid-irons in the test."  Anthony Spikes (1)
"Superb feel. I know where and how I hit every shot."  Larry Coben (6)
CONS
"At least a half-club shorter on good hits. Not much help on off-center hits."  Mike Nastasi (7)

Greg Lord

What we did
Four testers, with handicaps of 1,
4, 7 and 10, hit each company's
6-iron from the fairway. (Titleist's
Pro V1 served as our test ball.)
We used the AccuSport Vector
launch monitor to collect results.
Here's what we found.
What we learned
Ball flight
TaylorMade r7 TP is the highest flier, while the Ping
S58 has the lowest ball flight.
Spin
Remarkably, the Mizuno and TaylorMade produce the
same amount of spin on full shots with the 6-iron.
Carry
Nike CCi combines the lowest launch angle and fastest
ball speed to produce the longest carry.

What we did
Four testers, with handicaps of 1,
4, 7 and 10, hit each company's
6-iron from the fairway. (Titleist's
Pro V1 served as our test ball.)
We used the AccuSport Vector
launch monitor to collect results.
Here's what we found.
What we learned
Ball flight
TaylorMade r7 TP is the highest flier, while the Ping
S58 has the lowest ball flight.
Spin
Remarkably, the Mizuno and TaylorMade produce the
same amount of spin on full shots with the 6-iron.
Carry
Nike CCi combines the lowest launch angle and fastest
ball speed to produce the longest carry.

Test results
How they stack up
Testers voted on their faves using a
100-point scale. Category winners are
represented by a red dot. Overall
performance grade is determined by
equally weighting the 13 categories.

Test results
How they stack up
Testers voted on their faves using a
100-point scale. Category winners are
represented by a red dot. Overall
performance grade is determined by
equally weighting the 13 categories.